Proprioceptive element with adjustable height

ABSTRACT

A proprioceptive element including a base for attachment to a bottom surface of a sole of a shoe, the base including a flange nut with a first set of threads formed thereon, a height adjustment ring including a threaded portion which mates with the first set of threads of the flange nut of the base, and a bulbous cap element having a curved outer contour and which is attached to the height adjustment ring, wherein turning of the height adjustment ring on the flange nut of the base adjusts the height of the bulbous cap element with respect to the base.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to footwear for training,developing and enhancing proprioceptive and kinesthetic skills andneuromuscular control, and particularly to bulbous, proprioceptive(biomechanical) elements with adjustable height that are disposed on thebottom of the footwear.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Proprioception refers to the ability to know where a body part islocated in space and to recognize movements of body parts (such asfingers and toes, feet and hands, legs and arms). Kinesthesia is arelated term, and refers to the sensation by which position, weight,muscle tension and movement are perceived. In some of the medicalliterature, proprioception refers to the conscious and unconsciousappreciation of joint position, while kinesthesia refers to thesensation of joint velocity and acceleration. Proprioception is oftenused interchangeably with kinesthesia, and herein as well, the termswill be used interchangeably.

U.S. patent to Elbaz and Mor describes novel proprioceptive andkinesthetic exercise apparatus, which provides significant advantagesover other prior art apparatus, such as tilt boards or shoes with asingle protrusion. The apparatus includes two bulbous protrusionsprotruding from the underside of footwear, instead of the single ball ofthe prior art boards and shoes. One of the protuberances is positionedmore posteriorly than the other protuberance. The extra protrusion maysignificantly increase the possibilities and enable walking, andaccelerate and improve the results of proprioceptive and kinesthetictreatment plans.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention seeks to provide further features to U.S. patent.As is described more in detail hereinbelow, in the present invention theproprioceptive (biomechanical) elements have adjustable height.

There is thus provided in accordance with an embodiment of the presentinvention an article including a proprioceptive element including a basefor attachment to a bottom surface of a sole of a shoe, the baseincluding a flange nut with a first set of threads formed thereon, aheight adjustment ring including a threaded portion which mates with thefirst set of threads of the flange nut of the base, and a bulbous capelement having a curved outer contour and which is attached to theheight adjustment ring, wherein turning of the height adjustment ring onthe flange nut of the base adjusts the height of the bulbous cap elementwith respect to the base.

The flange nut of the base may be formed with a second set of threads,and the proprioceptive element further may include a locking ringincluding threads which mate with the second set of threads of theflange nut of the base, wherein the locking ring may be arranged fortightening against the height adjustment ring.

The height adjustment ring may include an outer rim that has markings atdifferent places on its perimeter. The markings may indicate a directionfor turning the height adjustment ring to lower and raise the bulbouscap element with respect to the base. The bulbous cap element may beattached to a cap support element which may be attached to the heightadjustment ring.

The inner perimeter of the threaded portion of the height adjustmentring may be formed with a plurality of axial grooves, spaced from oneanother around the inner perimeter. A peg may be disposed in a channelformed in the base, the peg being arranged to click against the axialgrooves when the height adjustment ring may be turned.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will be understood and appreciated more fully fromthe following detailed description taken in conjunction with theappended drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a simplified pictorial illustration of a proprioceptiveelement with adjustable height for use with footwear, constructed andoperative in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; and

FIGS. 2 and 3 are simplified, exploded perspective and side-viewillustrations, respectively, of the proprioceptive element of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

Reference is now made to FIGS. 1-3, which illustrate a proprioceptiveelement 10 constructed and operative in accordance with an embodiment ofthe present invention. All the parts of proprioceptive element 10 may bemade of any suitable plastic or elastomer.

The proprioceptive element 10 may include a base 12 adapted forattachment to a bottom surface of a sole of a shoe (not shown). Base 12may comprise a flange nut 14 with inner and outer threads 16 and 18,respectively, formed thereon. Flange nut 14 is preferably cylindricaland relatively short in height. A flange 20 of flange nut 14 may includemounting provisions 22 (e.g., mounting holes) for attachment to the sole(such as by means of rivets, screws, etc.). Alternatively, flange 20 maybe attached to the sole by adhesive or other means.

A height adjustment ring 24 may be provided, which has a threadedportion 26, such as with outer threads formed thereon, which mate withthe inner threads 16 of flange nut 14. Ring 24 may include an outer rim28, which may be tapered inwards and have markings 30 at differentplaces on its perimeter. (For example, the markings 30 may include “low”with an arrow pointing in the clockwise direction (as viewed from above)and “high” with an arrow pointing in the counterclockwise direction (asviewed from above).) Ring 24 may include an inner shoulder 32 surroundedby resilient tabs 34, which may taper inwards. The inner (non-threaded)perimeter of threaded portion 26 may be formed with a plurality of axialgrooves 35, spaced from one another around the inner perimeter.

A bulbous cap element 36 may be provided, which may be attached to a capsupport element 38. Bulbous cap element 36 may have a curved outercontour, whose cross-section may have any curvilinear shape, such aswithout limitation, the shape of a conic section, that is, the shape ofa circle, ellipse, parabola or hyperbola. Bulbous cap element 36 mayinclude one or more mounting lugs 40 (two are shown in the non-limitingillustrated embodiment) depending from a flat surface 42 thereof, whichmay be press-fit into mounting holes 44 formed in cap support element38. The cap support element 38 may have a support leg 46 depending froma flat surface 48 thereof. The bulbous cap element 36 may be press fit(e.g., snapped) into the cap support element 38 and the two parts may bepress fit into height adjustment ring 24 by clamping or snapping overresilient tabs 34.

A locking ring 50 may be provided, which has inner threads 52 formedtherein, which mate with the outer threads 18 of flange nut 14. Lockingring 50 may be formed with a plurality of knobs 54, spaced from oneanother around the perimeter of locking ring 50.

In operation, in order to adjust the height of proprioceptive element10, height adjustment ring 24 is turned on flange nut 14. For example,clockwise turning brings height adjustment ring 24 closer to base 12 andthus lowers the height of bulbous cap element 36. Similarly,counterclockwise turning moves height adjustment ring 24 further frombase 12 and thus raises the height of bulbous cap element 36. A peg 56may be disposed in a channel 58 formed in base 12. The peg 56 may bearranged to “click” against grooves 35 of threaded portion 26 when theheight adjustment ring 24 is turned. Locking ring 50 may be tightenedagainst ring 24 to “lock” ring 24 in place.

A set of bulbous cap elements 36 may be provided having differentweights and/or different elasticity. This may increase the possibilitiesfor exercise and rehabilitation programs.

Proprioceptive elements 10 may be attached to footwear. A user mayattach the footwear to his/her foot and perform a variety of maneuversin a proprioceptive and/or kinesthetic exercise plan for the lower foot,upper leg and even upper torso and other body parts and organs. Forexample, the footwear may be used to reestablish neuromuscular controlduring rehabilitation of joints, to restore the mechanical andfunctional stability of the neuromuscular system, to improve orrehabilitate anticipatory (feed-forward) and reflexive (feed-back)neuromuscular control mechanism, and to regain and improve balance andpostural equilibrium.

It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the presentinvention is not limited by what has been particularly shown anddescribed hereinabove. Rather the scope of the present inventionincludes both combinations and subcombinations of the features describedhereinabove as well as modifications and variations thereof which wouldoccur to a person of skill in the art upon reading the foregoingdescription and which are not in the prior art.

1. An article comprising: a proprioceptive element comprising a base forattachment to a bottom surface of a sole of a shoe, said base comprisinga flange nut with a first set of threads formed thereon; a heightadjustment ring comprising a threaded portion which mates with the firstset of threads of said flange nut of said base; and a bulbous capelement having a curved outer contour and which is attached to saidheight adjustment ring, wherein turning of said height adjustment ringon the flange nut of said base adjusts the height of said bulbous capelement with respect to said base.
 2. The article according to claim 1,wherein the flange nut of said base is formed with a second set ofthreads, and the proprioceptive element further comprises a locking ringcomprising threads which mate with the second set of threads of theflange nut, wherein said locking ring is arranged for tightening againstsaid height adjustment ring.
 3. The article according to claim 1,wherein said height adjustment ring comprises an outer rim that hasmarkings at different places on its perimeter.
 4. The article accordingto claim 3, wherein said markings indicate a direction for turning saidheight adjustment ring to lower and raise said bulbous cap element withrespect to said base.
 5. The article according to claim 1, wherein saidbulbous cap element is attached to a cap support element which isattached to said height adjustment ring.
 6. The article according toclaim 1, wherein an inner perimeter of the threaded portion of saidheight adjustment ring is formed with a plurality of axial grooves,spaced from one another around the inner perimeter.
 7. The articleaccording to claim 6, further comprising a peg disposed in a channelformed in said base, said peg being arranged to click against said axialgrooves when the height adjustment ring is turned.
 8. The articleaccording to claim 1, comprising a set of bulbous cap elements havingdifferent weights.
 9. The article according to claim 1, comprising a setof bulbous cap elements having different elasticity.